Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Highlighter [Joshua 9 - 1 Samuel 5]

I'm combining 2 weeks worth of reading here, so I'm gonna try hard to keep this from getting really long. Let's see how it goes...

Joshua 9:14 The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord.

I've always liked this verse. We need to get on our knees and "inquire of the Lord" before (and after) any major decision.

Joshua 14:9 So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.

Here, I guess I just really like that word "wholeheartedly." It also occurs later, in verse 14. We must follow God, wholeheartedly. With all of our hearts. Not just twice on Sundays, and once on Wednesdays. Let's give God ALL of our heart. Not just the leftovers, but all of it. Wholeheartedly. All the time, with all of our hearts.

Joshua 23:8 But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.

Joshua 24:15b But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

One of the best statements or quotes you could ever put on a wall in your home.

Joshua 24:23 "Now then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.".

I like that phrase, "yield your hearts."

Judges 10:15-16 But the Israelites said to the Lord, "We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now." Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel's misery no longer.

What is easy to notice in the book of Judges is that the Israelites always seemed to forget God when everything was going well. That alone is a lesson by itself, yet the story is not over. Even though he was constantly rejected by his people, God never failed to rescue them. We also constantly reject him when we follow the ways of the world. Yet God rescues us.

Judges 13:25 and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Again, just another phrase I like...the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him.

1 Samuel 2:2
There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.



God Bless, CP

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